Chapter 5: Gardening at Night
Raven sat curled up underneath her cape. The cool ocean air blew across the island bringing with it the first tendrils of evening fog. She was determined to wait all night if she had to in order to confront Morpheus. She and Beast Boy had spent most of the afternoon salvaging what they could. He had insisted on waiting with her but thankfully he passed out on the couch before the sun set. Most of the others collapsed soon afterwards. She hoped they would all get a better night's sleep tonight. That would of course all depend on if she could successfully confront Morpheus.
Raven still couldn't figure out why the immortal had chosen this act of revenge. It had been months since she had last seen him. He always seemed to pop up when she least expected but his actions this time seemed much more malicious than their previous encounters.
She began to doze off in the cool night air entering the twilight of consciousness before one becomes fully engulfed in deep sleep. The previous night's soft melody gently returned to her.
A cold gust of wind blew across Raven's face stirring her from her brief slumber. She was totally disoriented as a flash of light suddenly filled her eyes. The waves were striking the island harder now stirred up by the developing storm. A dull rumbling of thunder washed across the sky. Raven could feel the rain-cooled air hit her face.
She slowly stood up then started to make her way back to the Tower intending to get inside before the rain started. Another flash went off giving her a brief glimpse of her surroundings before totally blinding her. Raven nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of the large horse standing on the other side of the garden. Her fear was quickly compounded by the sudden crash of thunder. She backed up cautiously waiting for her eyes to readjust to the darkness.
Another gust of wind hit her face as the first drops of rain fell from the gathering storm. Raven heard a soft grunt before spying a pair of glaring red eyes approach. Her heart rate quickened as the rain intensity increased. She raised her hand creating a shield to keep the coming deluge off her.
Several violent flashes of lightning shot across the night sky forming a spider-web of blue light overhead. The unholy stallion reared up directly up in front of her whinnying loudly and shaking its head in protest. Raven jumped back fearing the beast would charge her. The last stroke of lightning revealed no rider. A loud crack of thunder shook the island. The storm's savage winds whipped the sea into a frenzy as waves began crashing loudly against the shore.
Raven lowered her hand bringing down her shield then held both her hands in front of her in a vain attempt to hold the beast back. The driving rain instantly drenched her. Another brief flash of lightning followed allowing Raven to locate the intruder. Thunder followed but this time it was much more subdued.
Raven waited in the rain as her eyes readjusted to the darkness. She spied the Nightmare's glowing red eyes in front of her. What this monster was doing here alone was beyond her recollection. Nightmares were malign inhabitants of the lowest regions of hell serving as mounts for only the most powerful demons or night hags, assisting them in their evil doings; tormenting only the most deserving souls who were condemned to spend eternity in fire.
Raven could feel cold waves of fear radiating from this beast. The Nightmare's frightening glare, however, did not appear to affect her; unusual since most mortals would not be able to stand up to this demon. She watched the stallion shift its weight nervously as its hooves sank into the garden's soft mud. Raven raised her hand and took a small step forward attempting to make contact with the beast. The Nightmare suddenly shook its head as it exhaled loudly and stomped its front hoof threateningly. A puff of steam erupted from the stallion's nostrils and burst forward filling Ravens lungs with a sickly smell of sulfur. Staggering backwards away from the stench Raven quickly covered her nose and mouth with her cape seeking some shelter from the creatures wicked breath.
"I'm getting tired of this," Raven called out in exasperation through the driving rain once she had caught her breath. "If you don't make up your mind what you want I'm going to chase you back to the gates of hell where you belong."
Raven gasped then stepped back as the Nightmare whinnied loudly in protest. Lightning went off overhead and a loud crack of thunder filled the sky as the rain began to fall in torrents.
"OK, maybe violence isn't what's called for in this situation," Raven said softly to herself in frustration. The creature was clearly agitated, but what could she do to comfort it?
Both Raven and the Nightmare stood for a long moment neither knowing what the other's intentions were. Another flash of lightning went off followed by a far off rumbling of thunder as the rain began to slacken. Raven's dream suddenly rushed back to her. The calming song her mother sang played in her head as she stood in the rain facing the Nightmare's glaring red eyes.
A sudden inspiration came to her. Raven tentatively hummed the tune her mother sang in her dream. The beast whinnied lightly as the rain intensity dropped slightly. She could feel some of the beast's tension filter away. Confident now that this was the right course of action Raven closed her eyes and raised her voice singing her mother's reassuring melody.
Raven felt a calm euphoria fill her heart as she continued to sing. Singing was one of those activities she would only do in complete secrecy. In it she found release and strength. She lowered her head then took a deep breath after the last verse fell from her lips.
Raven felt the tension in her soul tighten as she heard soft footsteps approach her. She kept her eyes closed and reluctantly held her ground. In the next moment she could feel the creature's warm breath across her face. With eyes shut she slowly reached out her hand not wanting to startle it. She then felt the Nightmare's rain slickened coat cross her fingertips as it grunted lightly in approval. Raven slowly opened her eyes as her heart raced in her chest. Tentatively she stepped forward and ran her hand gently along the Nightmare's cheek then down its long neck. This creature's coat was a pale gray, not the jet black she remembered when she last visited Hades with Morpheus. Its burning red eyes focused on her.
"Why are you here?" Raven whispered softly in the rain.
"I am Sol Palus (Pale Sun) and I serve you," replied the creature
Raven was startled by the creature's unexpected response. Its voice was even and determined.
"What?" Raven stammered.
"I serve you," resonated in her head once again. The creature's voice came to her telepathically.
The Nightmare grunted then lowered itself down into the muddy garden. Raven looked reluctantly at the creature as it lay in front of her. The storm was now blowing through the city and rising into the hills beyond. She remembered what happened the last time she rode Morpheus' Nightmare. Could she chance that near calamity again? Raven didn't feel like tempting fate . The Nightmare looked back and grunted softly encouraging Raven to climb onto its back.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?"
The Nightmare curled its neck down, laid its head in the mud then closed its glowing red eyes in a submissive posture. "I serve you," echoed in her mind one again.
Raven sighed then reluctantly climbed onto the Nightmare's back as instructed. A telepathic connection was instantly established between herself and the creature. Raven felt a sudden surge of darkness course through her soul. Her breathing picked up as she fought the sudden urge to drive forth and subjugate the world to her will.
"Relax, find your center, focus," she pleaded with herself. Slowly she regained control of her emotions. The beast's dark powers finally healed under her will. In that moment Raven felt invincible. She opened her eyes as her confidence surged. "Rise," she commanded.
Slowly the Nightmare raised itself up from the muddy ground. Its eye's opened shedding a silver light in darkness.
Raven grasped tightly onto the creature's mane and squeezed her legs together to keep herself from falling. She relaxed her grip once the Nightmare got its legs under itself. The stallion exhaled heavily awaiting the command of its new master.
"First thing," Raven instructed, "stay out of our garden." The creature slowly backed out of the plot Beast Boy and her had tended. Raven looked up and realized the creature's presence was probably causing her friend's nightmares.
"We need to get you off this island," Raven announced. The creature began to slowly walk to the water's edge. It stopped along the island's rocky shore and looked out over the choppy sea. The waves washed along the stallion's feet creating hissing wisps of steam.
"Come on, let's go," Raven kicked her heals back into the Nightmare's ribs encouraging it to move forward. The creature stepped backwards and shook its head in protest.
Raven reached down and gently stroked Sol Palus' long neck in reassurance. She firmly gripped the creature's mane with her left hand and raised her right. "Trust me," she said in a firm voice. The creature whinnied loudly then pushed itself forward with its powerful back legs. Raven's eyes burned white as her powers lifted her and her new companion over the choppy waters surrounding the island.